ARTIST STATEMENT

The Arbutus Series

My Arbutus Series is an exploration of the beauty, energy and quiet mystery of British Columbia’s West Coast. Inspired by Arbutus menziesii, a distinctive tree native to the Pacific Northwest, these paintings celebrate the meeting place of land and water—a landscape that feels at once meditative, dynamic and deeply connected to the natural world.

The series originates in photographs taken along the Sunshine Coast and during sailing trips through the Gulf Islands. Working in water-soluble oils on canvas, I use the sculptural forms of arbutus trees as both subject and frame. Their twisting branches, peeling bark and muscular limbs evoke the human form, reaching toward the light while remaining firmly rooted in the rugged shoreline. Through this subtle anthropomorphism, the trees become expressive presences within the landscape, suggesting resilience, movement and our own relationship with the natural world.

The compositions invite the viewer to look through and beyond the trees, revealing glimpses of luminous sky, shifting clouds, open ocean, islands and distant shores. Bold colour, strong contrasts and the brilliant clarity of West Coast summer light transform these familiar places into moments of heightened perception.

Ultimately, the Arbutus Series is a celebration of place and perspective—a visual meditation on the enduring relationship between land, water, light and the living forms that connect them.